Digging wheel drive



Dec. 15, l1942. H. lHOLLMANN DIGGING WHEEL DRIVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 28, 1941 l Dec. 15, 1942.

H. HOLLMANN v DIGGING WHEEL DRIVE Filed Feb. 28. l1941 J:A JE. 5.V

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ff z Patented Dec. 15, 1942 DIGGING WHEEL` DRIVE i Hubert Hollmann, Findlay, Ohio, assignor to The Buckeye Traction Ditcher Company, Findlay,

Ohio, a corporation f Ohio Application February 28, 1941,'. Serial No. 381,093

7 Claims. L (Cl. 744432) This invention relates to excavating machines but more particularly to excavating machines provided with a digging wheel which is equipped with an annular series of buckets' which successively dig into the ground as the machinead-f v vances, thereby forming a trench.

An object is to produce a new and improved drive for a digging'wheel of the above character in which a gear engages the teeth on 'the side of the digging Wheel and in which another member engages the linner surface of the wheel, the latter Amember being movable or rotatable independently of themovement Of-the gear so thatthese parts can move-v at relatively different rates of speed, thereby materially improving the 'operation of the'machine and `reducing friction and consequently wear of the parts.

Other objects and advantages ofthe invention will hereinafter appear and forpurposesof illustration but not ofl limitationpan embodiment of the inventionl is shown on' the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 isa side elevation of a digging wheel and its supporting frame, the traction machine and other parts being omitted;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section showing a driving gear in engagement with teeth on the gear segment;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing the driving gear assemblies associated with the digging wheel structure;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a driving gear assembly; and

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view substantially on the line 5--5 of Figure 4.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a digging wheel indicated at W which is suitably supported from a frame F by a support S and rollers R, the frame F being connected to a tractor or other suitable machine (not shown). The digging Wheel has an annular series of eX- cavating buckets B which, as the Wheel rotates, dig into the earth and discharge their loads successively upon a conveyor C which carries the dirt laterally of the machine. As shown in Figure 3, the digging wheel consists of a pair of laterally spaced rim members I0 to the inner portion of which are riveted arcuate gear segments II which together form a complete ring, and

formed on the segments II is a series of spaced teeth I2 which extend outwardly from the side of the segment. The segments II are shaped in the form of an inverted L in cr-oss section with the flange I.3 thereof overlapping the inner edge portion of the rim I0. It is understood that the construction is the same on eachside of the digging wheel. V"Ifhe'bu'cketsfB overlap the spaced rims IIJ and are suitably bolted or riveted in place.

'I'he above` describedconstruction is old in the art so that more detail description thereof is not considerednecessary. Y 1' 1 For imparting rotation to the digging wheel W, a shaft I4 has a sprocket wheel I5 secured to one end about which is trained a chain I6 which leads forwardlyv to thetracton The"`shaft`-I4 is square in cross section and adjacent each of-.the

rims I0 is a gearassembly generally indicated Vat G-fand since thegear assemblies are identicalgin construction, description of one is deemed Sullicent. The-gear assembly G comprises anvelongate hub memberr I'I'whichis fformedwithran annular enlargement I8. f Abutting against the outer face of the enlargement I8 isa geariiring I9 which isshouldered lto nt over a portionv of the'enlargement The gear teeth 2B on the outer edge ofthe ring I9 are engageable withthe teeth I'2-on the gear segments I'I.

A seriesV of bolt and nut assemblies 2I secure the ring IBiin place. As shown, the inner face of the gear ring I9 substantially abuts against the outer face of the gear segments II. The outer surface of the hub enlargement I8 is annular and tting thereon for rotation thereon is a ring 22 which engages the inner surface of the gear segment I I, there being substantial area of contact between the ring 22 and the gear segment I I as indicated on Figure 3. It will be manifest that lateral movement of the ring 22 in one direction is limited by the inner face of the gear ring I9. Lateral shifting movement of the ring 22 in the opposite direction is limited bya flange 23 which is integral with the hub enlargement I8 and projects outwardly therefrom.

It will be manifest that in operation the relative speed between the gear ring or pinion I9 and the ring 22 are difieren-t. Heretofore considerable difculty has been occasioned Where the part which engaged the gear segment rotated or moved f at the same rate of speed as the pinion which enmaterially reduced and the troubles occasioned I by break down and replacement reduced, but in addition, the digging Wheel is enabled to operate more smoothly and satisfactorily.

It is -to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation may be effected Without departing from the spirit of the invention especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A driving gear assembly for a digging Wheel comprising a hub member, an annular enlargement on said hub member, a ring having external gear teeth abutting against one face of said enlargement, bolt and nut assemblies for holding said gear ring in position, a rotatable ring, and a flange on said enlargement for holding said rotatable ring against lateral movement in one direction, said gear ring limiting lateral movement of said rotatable ring in the opposite direction.

2. Driving mechanism for a digging wheel provided with a pair of laterally spaced annuli bridged by a series of excavating buckets, each annulus having laterally extending gear teeth, said mechanism comprising a gear foreach annulus progressively engageable With the gear teeth thereof, and an independently rotatable roller associated with each gear and in rolling contact with the inner surface of the adjacent annulus.

3. Driving mechanism for a digging Wheel provided With a pair of la-terally spaced annulid bridged by a series of excavating buckets, each annulus having laterally extending gear teeth, said mechanism comprising a gear for each annulus progressively engageable With the gear teeth thereof, and a roller coaxial with the adjacent gear and rotatable independently thereof and engageable With the inner surface of the respective annulus.

4. Driving mechanism for a digging Wheel provided With a pair of laterally spaced annuli bridged by a series of excavating buckets, each annulus having laterally extending gear teeth, said mechanism comprising a gear for each annulus progressively engageable with the gear -teeth thereof, a ring coaxial with each gear and in rolling contact with `the under surface of the respective annulus, and means for mounting each ring to enable rotative movements thereof independently of the adjacent gear.

5. A driving gear assembly for a digging Wheel comprising a hub member, a shouldered portion on said hub member, a ring having external gear teeth abutting said shouldered portion, fasteners for holding said gear ring in position, a rotatable ring on said shouldered portion limited from lateral movement in one direction by said gear ring, and means on said shouldered portion for limiting lateral movement of said rotatable ring in the opposite direction.

6. A driving gear assembly for a digging wheel having an annulus provided'with laterally extending gear teeth, said gear assembly comprising a hub member, a ring having external gear teeth mounted on said hub member, the teeth on said ring being adapted to mesh progressively With the gear teeth on the digging Wheel annulus, means for connecting said ring to said hub member, and a second ring coaxial with said gear ring and independently rotatable on said hub member for rolling contact with the inner surface of the digging Wheel annulus.

'7. A driving gear assembly for a digging Wheel having an annulus provided with laterally extending gear teeth, said gear assembly comprising a hub member, a ring having external gear teeth mounted on said hub member, the teeth on said ring being adapted to mesh progressively with the gear teeth on thedigging wheel annulus, means for connecting said gear ring to said hub member, a lateral extension on said hub member, a'second ring rotatable on said extension for rolling contact with the inner surface of the digging Wheel annulus, and means for holding said second ring from lateral movement.

HUBERT HOLLMANN. 

